Key cutting machine



Feb. 20, 1934. F. E. FOWLER KEY CUTTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 11, 1933 2Sheets-Sheet 1 0 YALE F. E. FOWLER KEY CUTTING MACHINE Feb. 20, 1934.

Filed Feb. 11, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 20, 1934 I UNITEDSTATES ENT b FI B 1,948,260 KEY CUTTING MACHINE Frederick E. Fowler,Detroit, Mich., assignor to F. W. Stewart Manufacturing Company, a corporation of Illinois Application February 11,1933. Serial No. 656,281 I16 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in key wide range of use,particularly in the fieldof automobile ignition keys and door keys,being adapted to produce, without elaborate adjustment or skillfulhandling, practically any standard make of key for any automobilein'commercial use.

A more specific object'is to provide a machine wherein the spacing ofthe notches in the finished key is determined by a special notched baror spacer clamped to the usual movable carriage forming a part of suchmachines, whereas the depth of said notches is determined by anadjustable depth plate mounted on the relatively fixed frame of themachine.

Another object is to provide a machine of this character, wherein aplunger is located between the spacer on the carriage and the stationarybut adjustable depth plate on the frame, whereby said carriage, whenmoved toward the cutting tool will have its movement limited by engagement of the spacer with said plunger, the latter having a variableyielding movement, depending on the. adjustment of the depth platebehind it, thus providing for the cutting of notches of predeterminedand different depths.

A further object is to provide one formof such a machine with aplurality ,of notched depth bars each of which determines the notchdepths of all of the keys of this character manufac--" tured by onecompany.

An additional object is to provide another form of such a machine with asingle dial or disc which may be adjustedto determine the-notch depthsof all of the keys of all of the manufacturers, on the market, wherebyany such. key

may be made by changing only the spacer, of I from a consideration ofthe more detailed description which follows.

In the accompanying drawings I have illu'strated two commercialembodiments of the invention.

(Cl. SO -43.2)

Fig. 1 is a top plan mechanism;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a section onthe line 4, l of Fig- 1;

.view of one form of" Fig. 5 is a plan view of a typical depth'slideplate mounted in the machine in Fig. 1.;v

of different configuration from the one 1 Fig. 6 is a typicalspacerkey"of a different configuration from theoneshown mounted in saidmachine; I

Fig. '7 is a top plan mechanism; and

Fig. 8is an end elevation thereof with certain parts broken away. p

The machine comprises a suitable base 10,. preferably in the form of acasting having inview, of another form of tegral upright standards orposts 11 and 12kat the right hand end and 'nearnthe left hand endthereof respectively,- as viewed in Fig. 1. right hand post 11 has arotatable shaft 13 journaled in its upper end with a grooved pulley orfly wheel 14 secured thereto whereby said pulley may be rotated by acord in the groovethereof and driven by an electric motor or other me-'chanical means; or said wheel may be rotated by hand by means of thehandle 15, thereby rotating the cutting or milling wheel 16 which issecured V to said shaft by the nut 1'7. Near the base of themachine is afixed shaft 18 supported bya pair of lugs, 19 which ai c'preferablyintegral with said base and locatednear what may be considered the frontthereof. A movable frame or carriage 20, in the form'of a casting, issupported at its lower end on said shaft 18 and may be slid back andforth on said shaft and also swung about the same as a pivot,

The

as indicated by the dotted line and full line po-f swung to the fullline position, toward the cut-v ting tool, and in any intermediateposition it may be slid back and forth on the supporting rod 18 for apurpose hereinafter explained.

The key-blank 22, in which notches are to "be ground by the cuttingwheelor cutting" tool, is clamped in place on the right hand side'of saidcarriage 20, as shown in Fig. l. Said blank has notches are to be outand rests, in the position v in which the parts are shown in Fig. 1,. ona ledge or horizontalsurface 24 slightly below the top of the carriageor. casting, the latter having also an the usual shoulder 23,-onthe sidein which the intermediate, vertical shoulder against which the ame aftermoving the depth plate 32 to said blank is positioned. Said blank isheld in bring the appropriate no tch in register with the place betweensaid horizontal surface 24 and a stop 34. In this way teeth may beground corloose plate 26, by a wing nut 27 screwed down responding toany of the notches in said depth over a threaded shaft or bolt 28, thusforming a plate whereas thelateral spacing of said teeth small vise. Theusual small stop 29 is pivoted is determined'by the notches in the spaceplate at 30 to the carriage andserves to limit the inor key 31. gsertion of the key blank in the vise, being engaged The mounting for theplunger 33 and the depth by the shoulder 23. After said blank is clampedplate 32 will now be described more in detail. 10 in place, the stop isswung down. On top of the post or pedestal 12 is mounted a 86 In cuttingthe notches, the operator grasps head 36 or small casting adapted to beslid back the handle and swings the carriage from inclined and forthfrom right to left, as viewed in Fig. 1 position to substantiallyvertical position, pressand clamped in adjusted position. It is guideding the key blank against the rotating cutting in this movement by a rib3'7 on top of said 15 or milling wheel to cut one notch, then shiftingpost, received within a notch 38 in the bottom of the carriagelaterally, cutting another notch, and said head and forming ways. Saidhead is held so on. The depth of the various cuts is limited in thedesired position by a screw 39 and is adby a stop engaged by thecarriage in its rearjusted so that the distance between the left handward swing, as hereinafter described and the lat-. side of each vise isthe same as the distance 20 eral spacing of said notches is determinedby between the vertical front edge of the plunger a spacer 31 which may,for convenience, have 33 and the center or edge of the cutting wheelvthe general shape of a key having notches therel6. This adjustment isdetermined by loosening in at definite intervals. A number of such keys,the screw 39, and placing two identical keys in the 01' spacers, areavailable, each-lock manufacturer two Vises against the stops 29, 29',the notches 25 having a different spacing. Thus each machine in each keynecessarily being the same distance is equipped with a spacerrepresenting each diffrom the shoulder on said key. The pivoted ferentmanufacturer. The appropriate spacer frame 20' is then swung toward thecutter (which is inserted in a second vise at the left hand side is notrotated at this time) after said frame is i of the frame or carriage 20,the individual clamp moved back and forth until said cutter can en- 7 30parts being numbered 24 to 30 inclusive, to inc-ter one of the notchesin said key, whereupon dicate parts corresponding to those described inthe block or head 36 may be adjusted until the connection with the othervise. plunger 33 enters the corresponding notch in The depth of thevarious notches cut is dethe key in the left hand vise, after which thetermined, in this particular machine, by a depth screw 39 may betightened to clamp the head '5 slide plate 32, of which a considerablenumber in place. This adjustment need not be changed are available,representing the depth of the key for long intervals of time. notchesemployed by the diiferent'lo'ckmakers. The head 36 also has a notch 40in the upper One of these slide plates is required for each surfacethereof to receive the depth plate or make of key, but the notches inoneplate provide bar 32, the latter being confined by a. bar 41 w all thevarious depths used by that one manuscrewed to said head, said depthplate being .Y-

' facturer. For example, the depth plate shown slidable freely back andforth in the groove proe in Fig. l, marked Basco has notches whichvided, to bring any of. the notches therein in increase in depth fromright to left and are registration with the stop 34 on the rear ofnumbered 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, representing all the depths the plunger 33. Inorder to properly adjust 5 of the notches found in Briggs and Strattonthe machine for the depth of cut, the stop 34, Companys automobile keys.The sixth notch, which is bifurcated at its forward end, maybe which isthe deepest, is intended in this instance adjusted forward or backwardon the plunger as a convenience in duplicating existing'keys. and thensecured by means of a screw 42 and The Basco spacer shown also in Fig. 1has five a washer 43 beneath the head of the screw, bear- V 59 notches.Other spacers may have a greater or ing on said bifurcated portion. Saidplunger has less number of notches and at greater or less a flat portion'44 on top ofthe'same on which distances apart. said adjustable. stoprests. This depth adjust The appropriate depth plate, in conjunctionment is made also by placingblank keys in each with the plunger 33,furnishes the fixed stop vise, pressing the pivoted frame back tov thede-.

5 against which the frame 20 is swung repeatedly .sired position, andtightening the screw 42', the in grinding the several notches required.Said adjustment preferably being such that with the plunger 33 has awedge shaped stop in the form plunger pressed back against'theappropriate of a small block 34, 'adjustably secured to it, duplicatingnotch in the slide plate, as for exwhich stop, during the grindingoperation, is ample the left hand notch in slide plate 32, the

60 pushed back against the bottom of one of the. cutter, if rotated,will make only a light scratch recesses 'in the slide plate 32, againstthe action across the key. of the helical spring 35, when engaged by oneWhere the machine is to be used merely to of the notches in the spacer31, as shown in Fig. duplicate an available key, the latter is clamped1, whereupon the vertical front edge of said in the. left hand vise andthe key blank in the 55 plunger constitutes the fixed stop. I right handvise. The plunger 33 need not yield It will be understood that the notchinsaid but may be clamped in the proper position (.despacer engages saidplunger before the grinding termined by using the duplicating notch justrewheel begins to cut the notch in the key blank ferred to) by. means ofa set screw having a 22 and as the pivoted frame 20 is pressedrearknurled head 45, whereupon y pressing the 0 wardly, the engagementof said plunger in said swinging frame toward the grinding wheel andnotch prevents lateral movement of said frame intermittently giving saidframe a step by step on the supporting bar 18. i movement from right toleft, a duplicate key will To grind another notch the frame is swung beformed, as will be readily understood.

- away from the grinding wheel, moved laterally to The machine describedis used primarily in th desired position and again pressed towardconnection with a code Assuming, for example, that an ignition key hasbeen lost, it is necessary first to remove the ignition lock andexaminethe number thereon, which is normally concealed. These locks, asused commercially, are manufactured by a limited number of companies,each of which makes about two hundred fifty different keys. Assume, forexample, a Briggs and Stratton look, there will be provided a singledepth plate 32 and a single spacer 31, each marked Basco. After notingthe number on the look, a code book, especially designed for thispurpose, is consulted which gives a number, for example one having fivedigits. Assume, for example, a lock, No. A- -810 Basco. The index showsa corresponding combination number, 35153. Another part of the codeshows the number of the blank key to be used, i. e. 173. The blank isinserted in the right hand vise with its shoulder against the stop. The"spacer marked Basco' is theninserted in the left hand vise against thecorresponding stop and both stops then swung downwardly out of the way.

The Basco depth slide is then inserted in its slot with notch 3 in linewith the plunger. The cutter is turned and the key is forced toward thesame as far as it will go. This first cut is to be made next to theshoulder of the key. Since the combination number, 35153, begins andends with the digit 3, the carriage is moved over to the last notch andanothercut made therein of the same depth as the first cut. The depthslide is then moved to bring digit 5 in line with the plunger and thesecond and fourth cuts made without changing the adjustment since thesame digit appears twice in the second and fourth positions. The depthslide is then adjusted, with, the plunger opposite the digit 1, and theoperation repeated. In this last instance'there is no number 1 notch,but the edge of the slide constitutes the abutment.

As illustrating a depth plate having notches different from the onesshown in Fig. 1, see Fig. 5 in which a Yale depth plate 46 is shown.Fig. 6' shows the corresponding spacer key 47. All of the various spacerkeys have a shoulder corresponding to the, shoulder ,48 shown in thisfigure, which limits] the: depth of insertion of said spacer in the lefthand vise just as the corresponding, key blank has a correspondingshoulder to limit theposition of the same with instance is a rectangularplate adjustable lengthwise, i. e. transversely with reference to theaxis of the plunger, although it is obvious that various other forms ofplate' may be adjustably mounted to the rear of said plunger to limitthe inward movement thereof to various predetermined positions. Theadjustable depth plate and the plunger are mounted'on' a stationary partof the machine and the carriage is swung toward the same as well astoward the'grinding wheel, the plunger being positioned between thespacer and the depth plate.

In Figs. '7 and'8 are shown a modification in which the adjustable depthplate instead of be- .ing adjustable back and forth in a directionparallel to the axis of rotation of the grinding wheel, is in the formof atdisc rotatable about a vertical axis, eccentric with respect tosaid disc,

vso that upon rotation of the latter the effective radius of 'the discwill be varied, without notching the'periphery, although notches maybeprovided as a further alternative either with an eccentric scribedandcorresponding reference numerals v The disc 50 is'ro tatable about avertical pin 51 in the form of a have been applied thereto.

threaded shaft having a wing nut 52 thereon to clamp 'the 'disc to thehead 36. The numbers applied to the graduations around most-of thecircumference might be arranged-:as a continuous series, although toavoid bringing said numbers too close together and to render saidgraduations more readily distinguishable, said graduations are arrangedin two groups on opposite sides of the disc, as shown, numbers 1 to 45being grouped on one sideand numbers 46 to 90.being grouped on the otherside. Between the two .isa

line marked Dup; i. e. duplication, indicating the effective radiusto'be used in'limiting the rear ward movement of the plungerwhen anavailable key is1to be duplicated-j Theperiphery of the discprovides'sufficient ava'ilable'space to enable one disc to be used asthe depth plate for practically all of the keys now'on themarket, of thetumbler type, as the eccentric throw is, suflicient to correspond to themaximum and minimum depthcuts and all intermediate requirements.

If a new make should be introduced involving deeper notches thanordinarily provided for by the disc plate shown;-a duplicate ofsaid'disc could be provided ha'ving the eccentric opening in a differentposition to decrease the effective radius in certain positions, or anewdisc could be provided to meet the special case,'or'the stop member34 could be adjusted on the plunger 33 to permit the latter to recede agreater amount than withthe adjustment shown. This latter arrangement ispreferable as it provides for an almost unlimited capacity, in cuttingkeysby code.

While the form of machine just described has the advantage that onlyonedepth plate is required, whereas with the first form of machinedescribed it is necessary to provide half a dozen or more depth barsonly oneof which can be used at a time, said depth bars have notchestherein which do not require asaccurate adjustment as the graduateddisc, as the notches when engaged by thev shaped end of the stop membermake said depth bars self -aligning by the wedging action which takesplace.

While the plunger in both cases is provided with a spring by meansoflwhich it normally projects out enough to be engaged bythe spacerbefore the key blank engages the periphery of the cutter, it is evidentthat this preliminary engagement may be insured in other ways andWithout necessarily using a spring. Various other changes may be made inthe form and location of the elements described without departing fromthe spirit of the invention.

Reference in the specification and claims to the location ofthe'position of various parts as horizontal, vertical and the-like, isnot intended to limit the same but rather as a convenience in definingthe relative position of such parts and.

to simplify the description.

Iclaim: i a 1. In a keycutting'machine, a base, a movable framesupported thereby and having a pair of vises thereon for holding aspacer and a key blank, a cutting tool mounted on said base toward whichsaid frame'is moved to out said blank, a stop mounted on said base andwith respect to which said frame is moved back and forth to determinethe location only of the cuts lengthwise of said key blank andpositioned to be engaged by said spacer during movement of said frametoward said cutting tool to limit the depth of the cut, at the desiredpoint on said key blank,- and means for adjusting, the position ofsaidstop to provide for cuts of different depths in thesame key blank.

2. In a key cutting machine, a base, a cutting tool thereon, a frame onsaid base movable toward and away from said cutting tool and movable atright angles to said first movement, vises on said frame, one adapted toholda key blank and the other holding a spacer member having notchestherein of uniform depth and spaced apart distances corresponding to thespacing of the notches to be cut in said key blank, a depth plateadjustably mounted on said base, a stop between said depth plate andspacer memberv to be en gaged by one of the notches in the latter whensaid frame is moved to out said key blank, said stop engaging said depthplate also whereby the latter, in various positions of adjustment, deermines the limiting positions of said stop and hence determines thedepth of the cuts in said key blank.

3. In a key cutting machine, a movable frame having a pair of visesthereon for holding a spacer and a key b1ank,,a cutting tool towardwhich said frame is movedv to cutsaid blank, a yielding stop to the rearof said spacer, located to be engaged thereby and to limit the depth (ifthe cut and an adjustable plate behind said s'topto posi tion the same.

4. In a key cutting machine, a movable frame having a pair of visesthereon for holding a spacer and a key blank, a cutting tool towardwhich saidframe is moved to out said blank, a yieldingly mounted plungerengaged by said spacer and an adjustable depth. controlling member tolimit the yielding movement of said plunger and thus insure cuts in saidkey blank of various pre determined amounts. 7

5. A key cutting machine comprising a base, a rotatable cutting wheelthereon, a frame pivotally and slidably supported on said base wherebyits upper endmay be swung toward and away from said wheel and moved in adirection parallel to the axis of rotation thereof, a pair of vises onsaid frame for holding a spacer and a key blank, a head also supportedby said base, a plunger mounted in said head, a spring normallyprojecting said plunger toward said spacer and a plate adjustablysupported by said head,

behind said plunger, topermit a variable inward movement of said plungerwhen engaged by said spacer. Y I

6 A key cutting machine comprising a base having a pair of standardsthereon, acutting wheel supported by one of said standards, a headsupported by the other of said standards in approximate alignmentwiththe axis of rotation of said wheel, a frame pivotally. and slidablysupported on said base, a pair ofvises on said frame, a plungersupported by said head, a spring permitting said plunger to yieldinwardly and a notched depth plate adjustably supported by said head tothe rear of said plunger to limit the inward movement thereof.

spaced vises on said "7. A key cutting machine comprising a base havinga pair of standards thereon, a cutting wheel supported by one of saidstandards, a head adjustably supported on said other standard to varyits distance from said wheel, a plunger received in an opening in saidhead, a stop member adjustably secured to'said plunger and a depth plateslidably mounted on said head at right angles to the axis of saidplunger to limit the inward movement of the same.

8. In a key cutting machine, a supporting member, a horizontal plungersupported thereby,- a

bifurcated stop member on said plunger, a screw for adjustably securingthe same in position, a

notched depth bar transversely'adjustable with,

"from said wheel, a plunger received within an opening in said headandhaving a vertical edge on its protruding end, a spring behind saidplunger normally causingit to protrude, a stop member adjustably mountedon said plunger and accessible through a slot in said head, a notcheddepth plate received'in a transverse slot to the rear of said plunger tobe engaged bythe stop thereon when said plunger is pushed inwardly andmeans overlying said depth plate to confine'it in said slot.

10. In a key cutting machine, a base with a pair of vertical standardsthereon, a cutting wheelrotatably supported by one standard, guidewayson said second standard, a head adjustably mounted on said guideways tovary its distance from said wheel, a plunger received within an openingin said head and having a vertical edge on its protruding end, and aset, screw for holding said plunger in adjusted position.

11. In a key cutting machine, a base, a rotatable shaft supportedthereon, a cutting wheel on said shaft, a head spaced from said wheel insubstantial alignment with said shaft, 'a carriage slidable in adirection parallel tosaid shaft and pivoted to swing toward said wheeland head, carriage, a spacer clamped in one of said vises, the otherbeing aligned with said wheel, a depth plate movably mounted on saidhead, a plunger mounted on said head betweensaid plate and said spacerto be engaged by the latter and moved until obstructed by the former andmeans for shifting said carriage when saidengaging parts are disengaged.

12. In a key cutting machine, a base, a rotatable shaft supportedthereon, a cutting wheel on ,said shaft, a head spaced from said wheelin substantial alignment with said shaft, a carriage slidable in adirection parallel to said shaft and pivoted to swing toward said 'wheeland head, spaced vises on said carriage, a spacer'clamped in one of saidvises, the other being aligned with sa d wheel,.a disc rotatably mountedon said head,

a plunger mounted on said head between said disc and said spacer to beengaged and moved by the latter into contact with said disc and meansfor holding said disc in various positions of adjustment with referenceto its axis of rotation 13. In a key cuttingmachine, a movable framehaving a pair of vises thereon for holding a spacer and a key blank, acutting tool and an eccentrically mounted plate toward which said frameis moved in cutting said blank, said plate being rotatable to provide avariable stop to limit the movement of said frame and thus vary thedepth of the cuts.

14. A machine as in claim 13 in which the periphery of each half of theplate is eccentric with reference to the axis of rotation thereof, theeccentricity of one half being greater than the other half.

15. In a key cutting machine, a base, a movable frame thereon having apair of vises for holding a spacer and a key blank, a cutting tooltoward which said frame is moved to out said blank, a longitudinallymovable pin supported by said base to be engaged by said spacer, and aneccentrically mounted plate to the rear of said pin to limit themovement of the same and of said frame when the latter engages theformer.

16. In a key cutting machine, a base, a movable frame thereon having apair of vises for holding a spacer and a key blank, a cutting tooltoward which said frame is moved to out said blank, a longitudinallymovable pin supported by said base to be engaged by said spacer, and aneccentrically mounted plate to the rear of said pin to limit themovement of the same and of said frame when the latter engages theformer, said pin being formed of a plurality of adjustable parts to varyits effective length.

FREDERICK E. FOWLER.

